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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

' B. L. STOWE.

BELTING.

No 321,153. Patented June 30, 1885 W iz zeasea: lzwenfor M4 M/m N PETERS, PhahrLllhagmpher wmm mn u c (No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 1'.

' B. L. STOWE.

. BELIIING. 'N0. 321,153. PatentedJune 30, 1885.

B. L. STOWE.

No. 321,153. 4 Patented June 30, 1885.

- Ina/enlar- (Nd Model.) 4 SheetsShee t '4.

B. L. STOWE.

BELTING. No. 321,153. Patented June 30, 1885.

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UNITED STATES P T NT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN L. STOWVE, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO J. VAN D. REED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BELTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,153, dated June 30, 1885.

Application filed January 7, 1885. (No model.)

The principal objections to the use of belts of this class with machinery are their extensibility, the transverse ribs caused by weaving, and the liability of the plies toseparate while in use. With a view to overcome these objections I substitute for woven fabric solid knit fabric of the width required having a selvage on each edge. Whatever rib there may be on the acting surface of the belt-21 e.,that surface which is next to the pulley -or band-whee1-is longitudinal and not transverse; and as the knit fabric is a solid fabric-such as produced in a straight-knitting machine for making'a selvaged fabricthere are no plies to separate, as in the case of a multiply woven belt or of a belt (such as has heretofore been proposed) consisting of a tubular knit fabric flattened and cemented together. Two of the objections above stated are thus entirely eliminated by making the belt of a solid knit selvaged fabric of the width required for the belt. The third objection-via, extensibilityis obviated by incorporating into such aknit fabric during the process of its manufacture straight'longitudinal strands or cords, which effectually prevent the belt from stretching lengthwise.

The belt thus knitted may be faced or saturated with rubber or oil or other similar or' suitable material for giving it a frictional surface.

Figure 1 is a very much enlarged representation in plan of a portion of a fabric belt knit in accordance with my invention. In the actual web or fabric the strands are of course packed closely together. They are represented in the drawings enlarged and Widely separated, in order that the structure of the fabric may be more readily understood. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a portion of the complete belt. Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically the manner of constructing the fabric. Fig. 4 is an enlarged representation of one of the numerous modified constructions of knit fabric that may be used. Fig. 5 is a similar representation of still another modification. Fig. 6 isa section on line :0 00, Fig. 5.

The fabric shown in Fig. 1 is a solid knit selvaged fabric of the desired width for the be1t,having incorporated wit-h it, however, the longitudinal strands, and also a weft,if desired. The knit warp-threads are shown at A, the longitudinal strands, at D, and the weft at E. The longitudinal strands or cords D are laid in the spaces between the longitudinal rows of interlocked warp-thread loops, and are held in the fabric in this instance between the weft and those portions of the warp which extend diagonally from one loop to the next.

The knitting elements of a machine for making such a fabric are such as indicated in Fig. 3. In this figure, F represents one of a series of vertically-reciprocating needles. G is a horizontal warp-yarn guide,which has a longitudinal reciprocating motion equal to the dis tance from one needle to the second one from it, said guide supplying a separate warp-thread to each needle, and. each warp-thread being fed alternately to one or the other of two contiguous needles. H is the stationary guidebar which guides the longitudinal strands or cords into the fabricusually one strand for each space between the needles. I is the reciprocatory weftsupplying bar, consisting of a bar having a longitudinal motion exceeding the width of the fabric to be made. The weftthread passes through the tube (1, which is carried by the bar, and the bar moves only when the needles are in their lowest positions. Letters A D E indicate the warp, longitudinal strands, and weft, respectively. The needle is represented with one loop on it and in position to take another loop.

The fabric produced by this organization is, as seen in Fig. 1, a solid selvaged knit fabric of width desired for the belt, containing a weft or filling and longitudinal strands or cords, and with whatever rib there may be on its acting surface extending longitudinallyinstead of transversely of it. The longitudinal cords, which may be of any desired material-even wire,if desire d-enhau ce generally the strength of the fabric, and particularly prevent it effectually from stretching longitudinally. Fig. 2 is by the warp-threads B.

an edge view of a portion of the completed belt, which, as shown, is provided on its acting face with a facing of rubber, 6, applied and secured thereto in well-known manner.

A convenient way of applying the rubber is to first give the acting face of the belt a slight friction coat by running the belt with rubber between cylinders,which force a slight coating of rubber on or into the face of the belt, and then to apply the rubber strip 0, which is cemented and vulcanized to the prepared face. Both faces can be coated, if desired.

The knit fabric shown in Fig. 4 contains,as before, the longitudinal strands D and-weft E. It diflers from the fabric already described in the manner of knitting together its warpthreads, the warp-threads marked A being worked by a set of vertical needles, and those marked B being worked by a set of horizontal needles. The longitudinal strands D in this fabric are laid along the rows of loops formed The knit fabric shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in the main is similar to that represented in Fig. 4. the differences being the dissimilarity in the manner of forming the selvage and the addition of the binding-warps O. The looped stitches of these warps are formed upon the horizontal needles by which the loops B are formed; but these yarns G are led alternately to one and the other of two contiguous needles, thereby acting to bind the loops or stitches B, and to prevent possibility of the latter unraveling.

The outermost row of stitches, B, on each edge of the belt in Figs. 5 and 6 is not interlaced with the adjoining row of stitches A, as in Fig. 4, but they are interlooped simply with the weft E and binders 0, thus forming an edge which can be worn away without impairing the integrity of thebody of the belt. This feature, however, is not here claimed specifically, inasmuch as it forms the subject in part of another application in my name for Letters Patent, Serial No. 152,360. In the face view of the belt, Fig. 5, the fabric is represented as developed or spread out for convenience of illustration; but in reality each edge is rolled up partly onto itself, as indicated in Fig.6, being caused to assume this position by, draft or tension which is applied to the requisite extent to the weft E.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. Belting composed of a solid knit selvaged fabric of the width required for the belt,having incorporated in it straight longitudinal strands, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. A solid knit selvaged fabric belt having incorporated in it straight longitudinal strands and weft, and formed or provided with a frictional facing, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. A solid knit selvaged fabric belt in which the warp-threads are combined with straight longitudinal strands, a weft, and bindingstrands, as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of November, 1884.

- BENJAMIN L. STOVVE.

WVitnesses:

HENRY ENTsLING, M. BAILEY. 

